Ecotourism, in Dominica: Studying the Potential for Economic Development, Environmental Protection and Cultural Conservation

Over the last 20 years, the government of the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica has pursued the development of ecotourism on the island. The hope is that this industry will promote dispersed economic development while providing environmental protection and cultural conservation. However, not enough has been done to determine whether or not the industry is achieving the desired results. To this end, this study explores the growth of the tourism industry on Dominica and shows that, while not perfect, ecotourism is providing some definite benefits to the island in this regard

Use of an Alternative Natural Weed Suppressant: Effects of Parboiled Rice Hull Mulch on the Growth of Container Weeds

The Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) is one of the leading educational centers in Georgia about the ecology of the Chattahoochee River. Due to lack of man power, keeping down the weeds in the CNC plant nursery is one of those tasks that often gets left undone. The nursery becomes overgrown with invasive weed species. Understandably, they must sometimes resort to the use of herbicides, such as Roundup®, to keep the hundreds of native and endangered species of plants housed at CNC from being choked out by invasive weeds. This study tests the ability to suppress weed growth by use of Parboiled Rice Hulls (PBH), a biodegradable by-product of the rice industry used as an eco-friendly mulch or soil additive. As a result of this study the CNC has planned to implement the use of PBH as a mulch material to dramatically decrease use of herbicides

Earth from Above (KSU)

This Grants Collection for Earth from Above was created under a Round Eleven ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/geo-collections/1006/thumbnail.jp

Introduction to Human Geography (KSU)

This Grants Collection for Introduction to Human Geography was created under a Round Eleven ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/geo-collections/1005/thumbnail.jp

Writing in Geography: Student Attitudes and Assessment

This paper presents the results of two independent studies that assessed the impact of writing as a learning tool in introductory-level geography courses. Student attitudes toward writing and their performance on exams were analyzed to determine the impact of writing for comprehension and application of geographical concepts. Student perceptions were mostly positive; however, there was no significant improvement in grades. As both students and instructors view writing as valuable for learning, these results underscore the need to develop alternative methods of assessment and additional studies to quantitatively determine the impact of writing on learning

Open Geography and GIS (Open Courses)

Authors\u27 Description: Open Geography and GIS is a compilation of open educational resources used in Introductory Geography courses taught by three faculty at Kennesaw State University. This project is the product of an Affordable Learning Georgia Textbook Transformation Grant. GEOG 1101: Introduction to Geography Vanessa Slinger-Friedman and Jason Rhodes This introductory course focuses on the global patterns of population, culture, resources, and economic systems. Students will obtain an understanding of the factors contributing to these patterns, and examine contemporary world issues such as urbanization, economic development, and resource utilization from a geographic point of view. GEOG 1102: Earth from Above Ulrike Ingram This is a survey course for any student with an interest in geography, maps, or geospatial data and technologies. Students will obtain fundamental geographic principles of place and space, and learn introductory geospatial techniques such as map reading, coordinate systems, and scale by using global positioning satellite receivers, aerial photos, satellite imagery, and Google Earth technologies. The course is designed to give students hands-on experience to collect, manipulate, analyze, and understand geospatial data

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of an Ethnic Economy in a Suburban Landscape of the Nuevo South

Arguably, suburban areas—as geographic spaces—are becoming increasingly shaped by the influx of Latinos, their businesses, and their cultures. This study investigates the spatial distribution and temporal relationships of Latino-cuisine restaurants and Latino populations within a suburban context of the New Nuevo South. Census data, geospatial techniques (geographically weighted regression), and semi-structured open-ended interviews were used to determine where restaurant-based ethnic entrepreneurship has developed, both spatially and temporally, in Cobb County, Georgia, USA. Results show that in this suburban area, Latino-cuisine restaurants have become spatially clustered over time and that there is a moderately positive relationship between locations of restaurants and proportion of Hispanic residents. Our findings suggest that the Latino community parallels the spatial and economic characteristics of an ethnoburb, with the presence of geographically-diffused Latino population clusters and Latino-oriented businesses catering toward the dominant cultural identity of the region

Teaching Sustainability Using an Active Learning Constructivist Approach: Discipline-Specific Case Studies in Higher Education

In this paper we present our rationale for using an active learning constructivist approach to teach sustainability-related topics in a higher education. To push the boundaries of ecological literacy, we also develop a theoretical model for sustainability knowledge co-creation. Drawing on the experiences of faculty at a major Southeastern University in the United States, we present case studies in architecture, engineering, geography, and marketing. Four Sustainability Faculty Fellows describe their discipline-specific case studies, all of which are project-based learning experiences, and include details regarding teaching and assessment. Easily replicated in other educational contexts, these case studies contribute to the advancement of sustainability education

Sustainability Education and Organizational Change: A Critical Case Study of Barriers and Change Drivers at a Higher Education Institution

Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact on students, faculty, and the larger community. Sustainability efforts also experience many barriers to implementation within higher education contexts. A change management perspective can help characterize these barriers and ways to overcome them. In this critical case study, we use a process model to examine the kinds of barriers Kennesaw State University (KSU) has faced regarding implementation of academic sustainability and to evaluate change drivers that can advance sustainability during a time of leadership change. The process model evaluates barriers and change drivers according to published frameworks, and provides a way for higher education institutions to identify the most difficult barriers, easily surmountable barriers, and areas where change drivers can have the most impact. At KSU, the process model identified the self-determination of middle-tier change drivers as the most important way to advance sustainable development in higher education institutions (SD in HEI) until new leadership emerges. The process model is iterative and modifiable, because the specific frameworks used in the process model may vary depending upon the needs of each HEI and stage of progression toward SD